Question:
After our RNT, lap or open, what happens to the portion of the stomach....

that we no longer use? What is its function? It's not going to decay away is it? What exactly does it do now that we no longer use it?    — Annie H. (posted on May 27, 2002)

May 27, 2002
My doctor explained to me that the original stomach will atrophy somewhat, but it will still perform its regular duties down in its lower portion: producing acid, meeting up with bypassed food, and digesting it completely before it goes into the large intestine. This was my understanding--someone please correct me if I'm mistaken.
   — Kristie B.

May 27, 2002
To add to what Kristie said..... Yes, it still has a job it tries to do. It still produces acids, enzymes and sends them down the road. HOWEVER, we do not DIGEST again. Digestion once took place in that lower stomach, where the food was bathed in the gastric juices and "churned" into something absorbable. Now, the food goes over here, the digestive juices go over THERE. The juices are trying to digest, but there's nothing there! They mingle in the common channel, so the degree of semi-digestion/absorption that you get is dependent on your common channel length. However, some elements will forever need to be supplemented.
   — vitalady